You will be really rather interested in some of these choice titles, so read on.

Need, Carrie Jones (306 pages) – Someone’s stalking Zara White. Her schoolmates tell her he may be a pixie king, at any rate he leaves a disturbing gold-dust trail behind him wherever he goes. “Creepy” says the cover, and we like creepy. By the author of Love (and other excuses for duct tape).

First sentence: Everybody has fears, right?

Kingdom of Twilight, Tui T Sutherland (344 pages) - Not a derivative money-spinner: Kingdom of Twilight is the third book in the Avatars series. Diana’s spirit wanders the world of the dead and Gus, Kali and Tigre sail to Africa in their quest to end the battle of the gods. Tui Sutherland, interestingly, tells us in her bio that she’s named after “a rather noisy bird” (I guess she’s only heard the ones that imitate car alarms). She’s actually from Venezuela originally and now lives in Boston MA USA.

First sentence: Mist drifted around Odin, swathing him in smoky tendrils as he walked across the roots toward the stag.

Untamed, PC & Kristin Cast (338 pages) – It’s here! The latest House of Night book! Zoey’s adventures at vampyre finishing school take “a wild and dangerous turn as loyalties are tested, shocking true intentions come to light, and an ancient evil is awakened.” Woo. Fans of the Casts should visit www.houseofnightseries.com for info, news, pics and other guff.

First sentence: The caw! caw! cawing! of one stupid crow kept me up all night.

Vamps, Nancy A Collins (235 pages) – fans of vampire fiction will be really pleased to see there’s a new series here. Vamps is the first in the series of the same name, and it’s kind of like Gossip Girl but with vampires and minus the gossip girl… there’s an elite Academy where the best and fairest and most gorgeous vampires of New York train. The reigning queen is called Lilith Todd, for your information, and she’s not pleased when Cally Monture arrives from a less than salubrious suburb. Trivia: the book begins with an epigraph quoting Leo Tolstoy (as in War and Peace).

First sentence: “You can drop me off here, Bruno,” Lilith Todd said as she slid a Christian Louboutin heel onto her right foot.

Mariah Mundi and the Ghost Diamonds, GP Taylor (319 pages) – okay Harry Potter fans, let’s try this one: the back cover says “Still mourning Harry Potter?’ G. P. Taylor will take you right back to a world of fantasy, magic and fun. Fast-paced adventure without a moment to lose – the ideas and imagery are unmatched by any other writer.” This was written by a New York Times contributor, which immediately makes people sit up and take notice. Three visitors to the Prince Regent Hotel spontaneously combust and Mariah Mundi investigates, uncovering intriguing questions. The author, GP Taylor, has been a vicar, policeman, social worker and something to do with rock music in his colourful life.

First sentence: The man walked nervously in and out of the long, dark shadows.

Cuckoo in the Nest, Michelle Magorian (458 pages) – First published in 1994, Cuckoo in the Nest is about Ralph, who dreams of becoming an actor but is hampered by his working-class status in Britain in the 1940s. Ralph’s determined to make a go of it against the odds. Funny, touching and exciting; from the author of Goodnight Mister Tom.

The Parliament of Blood, Justin Richards (407 pages) – Rounding off with another vampire offering, this book warns you that it’s “not for the faint hearted”, which you aren’t of course. When an Egyptian mummy wakes up in the British Museum Eddie and George, Liz and Sir William (first seen in The Death Collector) are on hand to rescue the situation, which is a good thing, since they’re the only ones who know just how scary this particular mummy truly is. I’ve seen the mummies in the British Museum. They’re pretty fright-ful (it’s the teeth… and the hair).

First sentence: The carriage had been booked for over four thousand years, and the driver did not want to be late.